GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government · Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)

Breaking Down Silos and Changing Culture with José Madrigal, Durango, CO

·53 min·1 clip

GovLove keeps the conversation centered on management and organizational culture. Ben Kittleson introduces Jose Madrigal, Durango's city manager, and the episode looks at how he evaluates an organization before making changes. The tone is practical and personal. Madrigal traces his path from an internship in Lubbock to roles in Irving, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, McKinney, and finally Durango in 2020. He also mentions a 2025 recognition from a government business review. From there, the discussion turns to the odd feeling of looking back at the post-COVID years. Madrigal says those times still feel strange to think about, even in 2026. He explains that when he started in September, he already had a 100-day plan ready and had shared it with council and his directors. The plan was built around assessment first. He wanted to understand the organization before changing it. That meant meeting with directors, staff, town halls, and community partners. It also meant asking three direct questions about what was working, what could be better, and what he would change if he were in the role. He says he did not want to show up with instant answers. He wanted to hear from people before making decisions. Over those hundred days, he took notes and studied the organization closely. He kept his commitment not to make changes during that period. After the review, he returned with a report for council. He walked through what he had learned and what he planned to change. Then he went over those changes with his directors. He calls that part the most important step. The conversation lands on honesty, patience, and the reality that change was coming either way.

As heard by us

Listen first, assess carefully, then make the changes that matter.

GovLove centers on Durango city manager Jose Madrigal and his approach to management and organizational culture. He describes arriving with a 100-day plan, using that time to meet directors, staff, and community partners, and asking what was working, what could improve, and what…

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You want a calm, real-world model for changing culture without pretending it's easy.

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